California Yoga Teachers Association
Code of Conduct
Reprint of article written in Yoga Journal, Nov/Dec. 1995
By Judith Lasater--Berkeley, California
SECTION 1: Statement of Purpose
The members of the CYTA recognize the sensitive nature or the student-teacher
relationship. We believe that it is the responsibility of the yoga teacher to ensure a safe
and protected environment in which a student can grow physically, mentally, and
spiritually.
SECTION 2:
In order to protect the student in this potentially vulnerable relationship, as well as to
uphold the highest professional standards for yoga teachers we agree to accept the
following foundation principles:
1. To avoid discrimination against or refusing professional help to anyone on the
basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious, or national origin.
2. To stay abreast of new development in the field of yoga through educational
activity and study.
3. To seek out and engage in collegial relationships, recognizing that isolation can
lead to a loss of perspective and judgment.
4. To manage our personal lives in a healthy fashion and to seek appropriate
assistance for our own personal problems or conflicts.
5. To provide rehabilitative instruction only for those problems or issues that are
within the reasonable boundaries of our competence.
6. To establish and maintain appropriate professional relationship boundaries.
7. To cultivate an attitude of humanity in our teaching, we dedicate our work to
something greater than ourselves
In all professional matters, we maintain practices and teaching procedures that protect the
public and advance the profession.
Section 3:Professional Practices
1. We see our knowledge and professional associations for the benefit of the people
we serve and not to secure unfair personal advantage.
2. Fees and financial arrangements, as with all contractual matters, are always
discussed without hesitation or equivocation at the onset and are established in a
straightforward professional manner.
3. We at times render service to individual or groups in need without regard to
financial remuneration.
4. We neither receive nor pay a commission for referral of a student.
5. We conduct our fiscal affairs with due regard to recognized business and
accounting procedures.
6. We are careful to represent facts truthfully to students, referral sources and third
party payers regarding credentials and services rendered. We will correct any
misrepresentation of our professional qualifications.
7. We do not malign colleagues or other professionals.
SECTION 4: Student Relationships
It is our responsibility to maintain relationships with students on a professional basis.
1. We do not abandon or neglect students. If we are unable, or unwilling for
appropriate reasons, to provide professional help or continue a professional
relationship, every reasonable effort is made to arrange for continuation of
instruction with another teacher.
2. We make only realistic statements regarding the benefits of yoga.
3. We show sensitive regard for the moral, social, and religious standards of students
and groups. We avoid imposing our belief on others, although we may express
them when appropriate in the yoga class.
4. We recognize the trust placed in and unique power of the student-teacher
relationship. While acknowledging the complexity of some yoga relationships, we
avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of students. We avoid those dual
relationships with students (e.g. business, close personal or sexual relationships)
that could impair our professional judgment, compromise the integrity of our
instructions and/or use the relationship for our gain. We do not engage in
harassment, abusive words or actions or exploitive coercion of students or former
students.
5. All forms of sexual behavior or harassment with students are unethical, even
when a a student invites or consents to such behavior involvement. Sexual
behavior is defined as, but not limited to all forms of overt and covert seductive
speech, gestures, and behaviors as well as physical contact of a sexual nature;
harassment is defined as, but not limited to, repeated comments, gestures, or
physical contact of a sexual nature.
6. We recognize that the teacher-student relationship involves a power imbalance,
the residual effects of which can remain after the student is no longer studying
with the teacher. Therefore, we suggest extreme caution if you choose to enter
into a personal relationship with a former student
SECTION 5: Confidentiality
We respect the integrity and protect the welfare of al persons with whom we are working
and have an obligation to safeguard information about them that has been obtained in the
course of the instruction process.
1. All records kept on a student are stored or disposed of in a manner that assures
security and confidentiality.
2. We treat all communications from students with professional confidence.
3. When supervising apprentices or consulting with other yoga teachers, we use only
the first names of our students, except in those situation where the identity of the
student is necessary to the understanding of the case. It is our responsibility to
convey the importance of confidentiality to the apprentice or consultant.
4. We do not disclose student confidences to anyone, except: as mandated by law; to
prevent a a clear and immediate danger to someone; in the course of a civil,
criminal, or disciplinary action arising form the instruction where the teacher is a
defendant; for purpose of supervision of consultation; or by previously obtained
written permission. In case involving more that on person (as student), written
permission must be obtained form all legally accountable persons who have been
present during the instruction before any disclosure can be made.
5. We obtain written consent of students before audio and/or video tape recording or
permitting third party observation of their sessions.
6. When current of former students are referred to in a publication, while teaching,
or in a pubic presentation, their identity is thoroughly disguised.
SECTION 6: Assistant, Student, and Employee Relationships
As yoga teachers, we have an ethical concern for tie integrity and welfare of our
assistants, students, and employees. These relationships are maintained on a professional
and confidential basis. We recognize our influential position with regard to current and
former assistants, students, and employees, and avoid exploiting their trust and
dependency. We make every effort to avoid dual relationships with such persons that
could impair our judgment or increase the risk of personal and or financial exploitation.
1. We don not engage in sexual or other harassment of current assistants, studemployees or colleagues.
2. All forms of sexual behavior as defined in Section 4.6 with our assistants,
students, and employees are unethical.
3. We advise our assistants, students, and employees against offering or engaging in
or holding themselves our as competent to engage in, professional services
beyond their training level of experience and competence.
4. We do not harass or dismiss an assistant or employee, who has acted in a
reasonable, responsible, and ethical manner to protect or intervene on behalf of a
student or other member or member of the public.
SECTION 7: Interprofessional Relationships
As yoga teachers, we relate and cooperate with other professional persons in our
immediate community and beyond. We are part of a network of healthcare professionals
and are expected to develop and maintain interdisciplinary and interprofessional
relationships.
1. Knowingly solicitation another teacher's student is unethical.
2. Speaking of other teachers with disrespect is unethical.
SECTION 8: Advertising
Any advertisement including announcements, public statements, and promotional
activities done by us or for us, is undertaking for the purpose of helping and public make
informed judgment and choices.
1. We do not misrepresent our professional qualifications affiliations and functions
or falsely imply sponsor ship or certification by any organization.
2Announcements and brochures promoting our services describe them with
accuracy and dignity. These promotional materials should be devoid of
exaggerated claims about the exaggerated claims about the effects of yoga. We
may send them to professional persons, religious institutions, and other agencies,
but to prospective individual students only in response to inquires or as long as
that promotional material is sent to a reasonable audience in a non-invasive way.
3. We do not make public statements which contain any of the following:
a. A false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive or unfair statement.
b. A false representation of fact or a statement likely to mislead or deceive
because in in context it makes only a partial disclosure of relevant facts.
c. A statement implying unusual unique or one-of-a-kind abilities, including
misrepresentation through sensationalism, exaggeration or superficiality.
d. A statement concerning the comparative desirability of offered services.
4. Advertising or announcement by us of seminars, growth groups, or similar
services or endeavors are to give purpose and a clear description of the
experience, training, and experience of the provider involved are to be
appropriately specified.